Detector designs for improved resolution in lidar systems

A method of three-dimensional imaging, the method comprising:

• emitting, using a laser source, a laser pulse;
• collimating and directing, using an emission lens, the laser pulse towards one or more objects within a field of view of the laser pulse, the one or more objects reflecting the laser pulse to generate a return laser pulse;
• receiving and focusing, using a receiving lens, the return laser pulse to a return beam spot at a focal plane of the receiving lens;
• detecting, using a detector including a plurality of photo sensors arranged as an array at the focal plane of the receiving lens, a respective portion of the return laser pulse received at each respective photo sensor, wherein the respective portion of the return laser pulse corresponds to a respective section of the field of view of the laser pulse;
• determining, using a processor coupled to the laser source and the detector, a time of flight for each respective portion of the return laser pulse;
• and
• constructing, using the processor, a three-dimensional image of the one or more objects based on the time of flight for each respective portion of the return laser pulse.

A lidar system for three-dimensional imaging, the lidar system comprising:

• a laser source configured to emit a laser beam carrying an electromagnetic signal;
• a lens configured to collimate and direct the laser beam towards one or more objects within a field of view of the laser beam, the one or more objects reflecting the laser beam to generate a return laser beam, the lens further configured to receive and focus the return laser beam to a return beam spot at a focal plane of the lens;
• a detector including a plurality of photo sensors arranged as an array at the focal plane of the lens, each respective photo sensor having a respective sensing area and configured to receive and detect a respective portion of the return laser beam corresponding to a respective section of the field of view of the laser beam;
• and
• a processor coupled to the laser source and the detector, the processor configured to:
• determine a respective time of flight for each respective portion of the return laser beam detected at the respective photo sensor of the detector;
• and
• construct a three-dimensional image of the one or more objects based on the respective time of flight for each respective portion of the return laser beam.